In this paper, a study is carried out to investigate the stress concentrations at junctions of cylindrical-conical shell structures using the finite element method. A finite element solution is developed and used to model the structure. The solution utilizes curved finite elements that are capable to model the cylindrical and conical shell surfaces with high degree of accuracy. Elevated storage cylindrical-conical tanks and silos supported by "unyielding" stiff ring girders, which sit on a cylindrical skirt or on multi equally spaced columns, are analyzed. The opportunity is also taken to investigate the effects of various geometrical parameters, such as the conical angle, the height/radius ratio of the cylindrical shell, the location of the ring girder relative to the junction and the influence of adding ring stiffeners on the behavior of the structure. It is concluded that the geometrical discontinuity at the junction causes concentrations of compressive inplane as well as bending stresses. These stresses can be significantly reduced by either increasing the inclination angle of the conical bottom or by placing the ring girder closer to the junction.
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